16 February 2012

Algerian secularist icon rejects Islamist comeback

.... The government is likely to use celebrations this year marking the 50th anniversary of independence from France - commonly known as "the revolution" - to re-focus attention on the secularist values on which Algeria was founded.

"The problem in Algeria is not a problem of religion," said Malek. "We've been Muslims already for 14 centuries. The problem is about running urban neighbourhoods well, about good governance, good management, a modern education system." "It wasn't the men with beards who achieved the Algerian revolution," he said. "It was modern people." [Reuters Blogs - FaithWorld] Read more